Abstract

This specification defines the HyperText Markup Language (HTML), the
publishing language of the World Wide Web. This specification defines HTML
4.01, which is a subversion of HTML 4. In addition to the text, multimedia, and
hyperlink features of the previous versions of HTML (HTML 3.2
[HTML32] and HTML 2.0 [RFC1866]), HTML 4
supports more multimedia options, scripting languages, style sheets, better
printing facilities, and documents that are more accessible to users with
disabilities. HTML 4 also takes great strides towards the internationalization
of documents, with the goal of making the Web truly World Wide.

Status of this document

This section describes the status of this document at the time of its
publication. Other documents may supersede this document. The latest status of
this document series is maintained at the W3C.

This document specifies HTML 4.01, which is part of the HTML 4 line of
specifications. The first version of HTML 4 was HTML 4.0 [HTML40], published
on 18 December 1997 and revised 24 April 1998. This specification is the first
HTML 4.01 Recommendation. It includes non-editorial changes since the 24 April version of HTML
4.0. There have been some changes to the DTDs, for example. This document
obsoletes previous versions of HTML 4.0, although W3C will continue to make
those specifications and their DTDs available at the W3C Web site.

This document has been reviewed by W3C Members and other interested parties
and has been endorsed by the Director as a W3C Recommendation. It is a stable
document and may be used as reference material or cited as a normative
reference from another document. W3C's role in making the Recommendation is to
draw attention to the specification and to promote its widespread deployment.
This enhances the functionality and interoperability of the Web.